New Beginning

Closing time 
Time for you to go out go out into the world. 
Closing time 
Turn the lights up over every boy and every girl. 
Closing time 
One last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer. 
Closing time 
You don't have to go home but you can't stay here. 

…

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end

-Closing Time, Semisonic

So the last week of Avalon was one of note.  Things have wrapped up in rather anger inducing ways, and in quite pleasant ways too.  We have met new amazing people and said farewell to others.  Let me start off with one such farewell. 

Nancy is an amazing woman.  She was the person who helped Rachel and I get the jobs that we have today.  During the last week that we were living in Seoul, I said farewell to Nancy.  She is moving on to bigger and better things back home in the states.  But for one night only, we had a night of games, drinks and a small taste of home.  After a fantastic dinner of delicious burgers and craft beers, we moved on to poutine (anyone who does not know what that is, ask anyone from Canada) and blueberry maccoli (a local, super cheap, rice wine).  After several hours and more than a few rounds we moved to one place of particular note. 

The All American Café was a place that was literally a slice of home.  We set up a few card games and I looked over the torn up, greasy, menu.  For a moment I was back in Ypsilanti.  The worn Astroturf was stained with condiments and alcohol, while annoying people talked about crass subjects in obnoxiously loud voices.  I took one look at the menu and ordered a gin martini and a bowl of chili…glorious. 

Now, I have talked about my experiences with cabbies here before, so I left the diner with plenty of time to catch the last train.  Well as it turns out, it was a major holiday here in Korea (the equivalent to Memorial Day – different war, same idea) and the subway shut down an hour earlier than normal.  So, with several bags that I was transferring for Nancy, I grabbed some cash and walked as far away from Itaewon as I could before hailing a cab.  Amazingly, I did not get fleeced.  I got home for under $5 and everything was cool. 

Those last few days at Avalon were something.  Anyone who has taught knows that there is one thing that is unavoidable and very painful.  I was taking over for a few classes until my contract ran up.  One of these classes had one of my favorite students.  His eyes lit up as I came inside.  But when I told him that I was leaving after that one class, his eyes widened further as he took my hand, giving me the expression that a cow gives an oncoming train, asking “why?”  The job may have sucked, but I will miss those kids. 

Alex

Brian

Soo Bin

My entire Santa Maria Class

Almost every DA class that I taught

Jenny

Sally

Sam

You will all be missed. 

As the title suggests, new things came.  We moved once again.  This time though, we were graced with Mr. Yang.  I cannot say enough nice things about this man.  Mr. Yang showed up with a company car and a company credit card.  He shuttled us and everything that we had the 45 minutes to our new apartment.  I want to take a moment from raving about Mr. Yang to rave about our new apartment.  We have more than one room!  I can sit on the couch in the living room (yes, you heard that right) and lose sight of Rachel as she walks down the hallway to the front door.  Large windows let in a tremendous amount of light as I sit down at the table to eat my breakfast. 

OK, back to Mr. Yang.  I had one last day of classes to get to the same day that we moved, so Rachel and Mr. Yang started to finish up.  He and Rachel went shopping for all the necessary things we needed for moving in.  He kept giving us stuff!  After getting Rachel lunch, he insisted on buying a pizza to put into the fridge for when I get back.  He insisted that we needed a microwave and a rice cooker.  He insisted... this is a very new experience for us.  We got him a very expensive bottle of whiskey as a thank you. 

With everything that has happened in the last few days at the new job, I can safely say that things are looking up.  Things are looking very, very up. 

More to come soon.  Until then, stay frosty dear readers.